Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection among pediatric inpatients with respiratory tract infections(RTIs)at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province,providing evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 546 children hospitalized for RTIs between January 2016 and February 2024.Nasopharyngeal aspirates or deep sputum samples were collected,and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect nucleic acids of 13 respiratory pathogens,including MP and adenovirus.The epidemiological trends across different years,seasons,genders,and age groups were analyzed.Results Among the 79 546 enrolled cases(male:47 437,59.6%;female:32 109,40.4%),the MP-positive rate was 17.7%(14 106/79 546),peaking in 2023(28.8%)and reaching the lowest in 2021(7.0%).Except for the period from July 2020 to March 2021 with exceptionally low MP positivity,epidemic peaks consistently occurred between August and February or March of the following year.Seasonal analysis revealed significantly higher MP positivity in autumn and winter compared to spring(P<0.001).Female children exhibited a higher MP-positive rate(20.1%,6444/32 109)than males(16.2%,7662/47 437)(P<0.001).The MP-positive rate increased with age:infancy(3.2%,849/26 741),toddlerhood(9.3%,1935/20 763),preschool(21.2%,3918/18 448),and school-age(54.5%,7404/13 594)(P<0.001).Co-infections with other respiratory pathogens were observed in 37.3%(5264/14 106)of MP-positive cases,with human rhinovirus(HRV)being the most frequent co-pathogen(43.3%,2279/5264 of mixed infections).Conclusion MP is a major pathogen of RTIs in hospitalized children at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province.Infections occur year-round but predominantly in autumn,with higher susceptibility in females and school-age children.Targeted preventive measures should be implemented during peak seasons to mitigate transmission risks.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Dahuang Fuzi Decoction following the therapy of unblocking bowels for the treatment of acute pancreatitis of pathogenic-cold accumulation and retention type.Methods A total of 78 patients with acute pancreatitis of pathogenic-cold accumulation and retention type were randomly divided into a study group and a control group,39 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional western medicine,and the study group was treated with oral use or nasogastric feeding of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment covered seven days.The two groups were observed in the changes of serum pancreatic enzyme indicators of serum amylase and lipase,inflammatory factors of C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-8(IL-8),acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score,and modified CT severity index(MCTSI)score before and after treatment.The time for abdominal pain relief,time for abdominal distension relief,and time for anal defecation were compared between the two groups.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)During the trial,there was one patient falling off separately from the study group and the control group,and 38 patients in each group were eventually included in the efficacy statistics.(2)After seven days of treatment,the total effective rate of the study group was 86.84％(33/38),and that of the control group was 78.95％(30/38).The intergroup comparison(tested by rank sum test)showed that the efficacy of the study group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the serum levels of pancreatic enzyme indicators of amylase and lipase in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum amylase and lipase levels in the study group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the serum levels of inflammatory factors of CRP,PCT,IL-6 and IL-8 in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum CRP,PCT,IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the study group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(5)After treatment,the APACHE Ⅱ and MCTSI scores of the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of APACHE Ⅱ and MCTSI scores in the study group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(6)For the time of symptom relief,the time for abdominal pain relief,time for abdominal distension relief,and time for anal defecation in the study group were significantly shortened compared with those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).(7)No obvious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups during the treatment,indicating high safety.Conclusion On the basis of conventional treatment,the use of modified Dahuang Fuzi Decoction following the therapy of unblocking bowels exerts certain efficacy for the treatment of patients with acute pancreatitis of pathogenic-cold accumulation and retention type.The therapy is effective on relieving the symptoms and signs of patients,and decreasing the level of serum pancreatic enzyme indicators and inflammatory factors.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the detection and diagnosis process of two cases with double rare thalassemia genotypes,explore the causes of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of rare thalassemia,and improve the diagnosis level of rare thalassemia.Methods:Base on the family history,hematological phenotype and hemoglobin electrophoretic analysis results,the common genotypes of α and β-thalassemia were detected by PCR+diversion hybridization.DNA sequencing technology was used for rare α and β protein genes sequencing.Results:Both subjects were combined with double rare thalassemia genotypes,and both rare thalassemia gene combinations were reported for the first time.One of them was αβ complex thalassemia with αα*53_55 del TCC/αα heterozygous merger βIVS Ⅱ2(-T)/βN heterozygous,the other was ααIVS-Ⅱ-55(T→G)in α1/αα4,2-Q double azygous heterozygous α-thalassemia,among whichαα*53_55 del TCC/αα genotype was also reported for the first time.Conclusion:The reported rare gene type αα*53_55 del TCC/αα and two cases of rare gene combinations enriches the spectrum of gene mutations in the Chinese population,and provides richer molecular information for thalassemia diagnosis and eugenics counseling.

Eleutherococcus senticosus is one of the Dao-di herbs in northeast China. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of three E. senticosus samples from different genuine producing areas were sequenced and then used for the screening of specific DNA barcodes. The germplasm resources and genetic diversity of E. senticosus were analyzed basing on the specific DNA barcodes. The chloroplast genomes of E. senticosus from different genuine producing areas showed the total length of 156 779-156 781 bp and a typical tetrad structure. Each of the chloroplast genomes carried 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. The chloroplast genomes were relatively conserved. Sequence analysis of the three chloroplast genomes indicated that atpI, ndhA, ycf1, atpB-rbcL, ndhF-rpl32, petA-psbJ, psbM-psbD, and rps16-psbK can be used as specific DNA barcodes of E. senticosus. In this study, we selected atpI and atpB-rbcL which were 700-800 bp and easy to be amplified for the identification of 184 E. senticosus samples from 13 genuine producing areas. The results demonstrated that 9 and 10 genotypes were identified based on atpI and atpB-rbcL sequences, respectively. Furthermore, the two barcodes identified 23 genotypes which were named H1-H23. The haplotype with the highest proportion and widest distribution was H10, followed by H2. The haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.94 and 1.82×10~(-3), respectively, suggesting the high genetic diversity of E. senticosus. The results of the median-joining network analysis showed that the 23 genotypes could be classified into 4 categories. H2 was the oldest haplotype, and it served as the center of the network characterized by starlike radiation, which suggested that population expansion of E. senticosus occurred in the genuine producing areas. This study lays a foundation for the research on the genetic quality and chloroplast genetic engineering of E. senticosus and further research on the genetic mechanism of its population, providing new ideas for studying the genetic evolution of E. senticosus.
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Eleutherococcus/genetics* ; Base Sequence ; Chloroplasts/genetics* ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny

italic>Atractylodes chinensis has important medicinal and economic values. In this study, the chloroplast genome sequences of four A. chinensis samples from different producing areas were sequenced using the Illumina platform. The specific DNA barcodes were screened and the germplasm resources of A. chinensis samples from different producing areas and the genetic diversity of the population were analyzed basing on the specific barcodes. The whole chloroplast genomes of the four A. chinensis samples had a typical cyclic tetrad structure, with 112 genes annotated. The comparative genomics results indicated that ccsA and trnC-GCA_petN were potential specific DNA barcodes for intraspecific identification of A. chinensis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of ccsA and trnC-GCA_petN was performed on 256 samples from 14 areas in 9 provinces, and the amplification efficiency was 100%. Sequence analysis showed that ccsA and trnC-GCA_petN had 11 and 22 variant positions, which could identify 16 and 22 haplotypes, respectively. The combined sequence analysis identified 39 haplotypes, named Hap1-Hap39, of which the most abundant and widely distributed genotype was Hap9. Haplotype diversity (H_d) = 0.896 and nucleotide diversity (Pi) = 0.002 22 indicated high genetic diversity at the species level in A. chinensis. The genetic distances of the haplotypes were 0.000 00-0.004 88, indicating that there were small genetic differences among the haplotypes. The results of phylogenetic tree analysis showed that 39 haplotypes had very close genetic relationship, and formed two obvious branches with other groups of the same genus except Atractylodes macrocephala. This study plays an important role in the identification of the origin of A. chinensis and the protection and breeding of germplasm resources.

Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Liver Neoplasms ; Ribonucleoproteins ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI) is a complex cascade process and seriously hinders the recovery of patients with acute ischemic stroke, which has become an urgent public health issue to be addressed. Silent information regulators(SIRTs) are a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD~+)-dependent deacetylases, capable of deacylating the histone and non-histone lysine groups. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that SIRTs are able to regulate the pathological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammatory response, mitochondrial dysfunction, and programmed cell death of CIRI through post-translational deacetylation, and exert the neuroprotection function. In this study, we reviewed the papers about the role and regulatory mechanisms of SIRTs in the pathological process of CIRI published in the past decade. Further, we summarized the research advance in the prevention and treatment of CIRI with Chinese medicine targeting SIRTs and the related signaling pathways. This review will provide new targets and theoretical support for the clinical application of Chinese medicine in treating CIRI during the occurrence of ischemic stroke.
Humans ; Brain Ischemia/therapy* ; Ischemic Stroke/therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oxidative Stress ; Reperfusion Injury/therapy* ; Sirtuins/metabolism*